Glyphosate tolerant alfalfa events and methods for detection

ABSTRACT

The present invention provides for alfalfa events J-101 and J-163 and DNA molecules unique to these events. The invention also provides methods for detecting the presence of these DNA molecules in a plant sample.

This application claims benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No.60/443,997, filed Jan. 31, 2003, the entire contents of which areincorporated by reference herein.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the field of plant molecular biology,more specifically the invention relates to transgenic glyphosatetolerance in an alfalfa plant. The invention more specifically relatesto glyphosate tolerant alfalfa events J-101 and J-163 and to assays fordetecting the presence of glyphosate tolerant alfalfa DNA in a plantextract

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Alfalfa is an important animal forage crop in many areas of the world.The methods of biotechnology have been applied to alfalfa forimprovement of the agronomic traits and the quality of the product. Onesuch agronomic trait important in alfalfa production is herbicidetolerance, in particular, tolerance to glyphosate herbicide.

Alfalfa is a perennial leguminous plant (Medicago sativa) of the familyLeguminosae (pulse family), the most important pasture and hay plant inNorth America, also grown extensively in Argentina, S Europe, and Asia.Alfalfa has high yield, high protein content, and prolific growth.However, unlike most grain or fiber crops from which weeds are separatedat harvest, weeds are often harvested along with the forage crop,potentially reducing quality. Reductions in quality are often in theform of lower protein content and feed digestibility. Weeds in newalfalfa stands especially reduce yield and crop quality. The major weedsin new alfalfa fields are annuals, such as green foxtail, pigweed, andlambsquarters. Winter annuals, such as flixweed, blue mustard,shepherdspurse, other mustards and downy brome, are more likely to causeserious weed problems in established stands. Perennial weeds, such asfoxtail barley and dandelion, are also common weed problems inestablished alfalfa. Bindweed and Canada thistle are weeds in alfalfafor which there are currently no good control methods. A herbicidetolerant alfalfa event would be a useful trait for managing weeds andmaintaining the quality of the forage.

N-phosphonomethylglycine, also known as glyphosate, is a well-knownherbicide that has activity on a broad spectrum of plant species.Glyphosate is the active ingredient of Roundup® (Monsanto Co.), a safeherbicide having a desirably short half-life in the environment. Whenapplied to a plant surface, glyphosate moves systemically through theplant. Glyphosate is phytotoxic due to its inhibition of the shikimicacid pathway, which provides a precursor for the synthesis of aromaticamino acids. Glyphosate inhibits the enzyme5-enolpyruvyl-3-phosphoshikimate synthase (EPSPS) found in plants.Glyphosate tolerance can also be achieved by the expression of EPSPSvariants that have lower affinity for glyphosate and therefore retaintheir catalytic activity in the presence of glyphosate (U.S. Pat. Nos.5,633,435; 5,094,945; 4,535,060, and 6,040,497). Enzymes that degradeglyphosate in plant tissues (U.S. Pat. No. 5,463,175) are also capableof conferring cellular tolerance to glyphosate. Such genes are used forthe production of transgenic crops that are tolerant to glyphosate,thereby allowing glyphosate to be used for effective weed control withminimal concern of crop damage. For example, glyphosate tolerance hasbeen genetically engineered into corn (U.S. Pat. No. 5,554,798), wheat(Zhou et al. Plant Cell Rep. 15:159-163, 1995), soybean (WO 9200377) andcanola (WO 9204449). The transgenes for glyphosate tolerance and thetransgenes for tolerance to other herbicides, e.g. bar gene, Toki et al.Plant Physiol., 100:1503-1507, 1992; Thompson et al. EMBO J.6:2519-2523, 1987; phosphinothricin acetyltransferase DeBlock et al.EMBO J., 6:2513-2522, 1987, glufosinate herbicide) are also useful asselectable markers or scorable markers and can provide a usefulphenotype for selection of plants linked with other agronomically usefultraits.

The expression of foreign genes in plants is known to be influenced bytheir chromosomal position, perhaps due to chromatin structure (e.g.,heterochromatin) or the proximity of transcriptional regulation elements(e.g., enhancers) close to the integration site (Weising et al., Ann.Rev. Genet 22:421-477, 1988). For this reason, it is often necessary toscreen a large number of events in order to identify an eventcharacterized by optimal expression of an introduced gene of interest.For example, it has been observed in plants and in other organisms thatthere may be a wide variation in levels of expression of an introducedgene among events. There may also be differences in spatial or temporalpatterns of expression, for example, differences in the relativeexpression of a transgene in various plant tissues, that may notcorrespond to the patterns expected from transcriptional regulatoryelements present in the introduced gene construct. For this reason, itis common to produce hundreds to thousands of different events andscreen those events for a single event that has desired transgeneexpression levels and patterns for commercial purposes. An event thathas desired levels or patterns of transgene expression is useful forintrogressing the transgene into other genetic backgrounds by sexualoutcrossing using conventional breeding methods. Progeny of such crossesmaintain the transgene expression characteristics of the originaltransformant. This strategy is used to ensure reliable gene expressionin a number of varieties that are well adapted to local growingconditions.

It would be advantageous to be able to detect the presence of aparticular event in order to determine whether progeny of a sexual crosscontain a transgene of interest. In addition, a method for detecting aparticular event would be helpful for complying with regulationsrequiring the premarket approval and labeling of foods derived fromrecombinant crop plants, for example. It is possible to detect thepresence of a transgene by any well known polynucleic acid detectionmethod such as the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) or DNA hybridizationusing polynucleic acid probes. These detection methods generally focuson frequently used genetic elements, such as promoters, terminators,marker genes, etc. As a result, such methods may not be useful fordiscriminating between different events, particularly those producedusing the same DNA construct unless the sequence of chromosomal DNA(“flanking DNA”) adjacent to the inserted transgene DNA is known. Anevent-specific PCR assay is discussed, for example, by Windels et al.(Med. Fac. Landbouww, Univ. Gent 64/5b:459-462, 1999), who identifiedglyphosate tolerant soybean event 40-3-2 by PCR using a primer setspanning the junction between the insert transgene and flanking DNA,specifically one primer that included sequence from the insert and asecond primer that included sequence from flanking DNA. Transgenic plantevent specific DNA detection methods have also been described in US20020013960 and WO 0227004.

This invention relates to the glyphosate herbicide tolerant alfalfaevents J-101 and 1-163, and to the DNA molecules contained in thesealfalfa plants that are useful in detection methods for glyphosatetolerant alfalfa and progeny thereof.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is an alfalfa transgenic event designated J-101having seed deposited with American Type Culture Collection (ATCC) withAccession No. PTA-4814. Another aspect of the invention is the progenyplants, or seeds, or regenerable parts of the plants and seeds of thealfalfa event J-101. The invention also includes plant parts of alfalfaevent J-101 that include, but are not limited to pollen, ovule, flowers,shoots, roots, and leaves. The invention provides a glyphosate tolerantalfalfa plant that has all of the physiological and morphologicalcharacteristics of the alfalfa event J-101 of claim 1 and the progenyplants and parts thereof.

One aspect of the invention provides compositions and methods fordetecting the presence of a DNA transgene/genomic junction region fromalfalfa event J-101 plant or seed. DNA molecules are provided thatcomprise at least one transgene/genomic junction DNA molecule selectedfrom the group consisting of SEQ ID NO:1 and SEQ ID NO:2, andcomplements thereof, wherein the junction molecule spans the insertionsite that comprises a heterologous DNA inserted into the genome and thegenomic DNA from the alfalfa cell flanking the insertion site alfalfaevent J-101. An alfalfa event J-101 and seed comprising these DNAmolecules is an aspect of this invention.

A novel DNA molecule is provided that is a DNA transgene/genomic regionSEQ ID NO:3 or the complement thereof, from alfalfa event J-101. Analfalfa plant and seed comprising SEQ ID NO:3 in its genome is an aspectof this invention. According to another aspect of the invention, a DNAmolecule is provided that is a DNA transgene/genomic region SEQ ID NO:4,or the complement thereof, wherein this DNA molecule is novel in alfalfaevent J-101. An alfalfa plant and seed comprising SEQ ID NO:4 in itsgenome is an aspect of this invention.

According to another aspect of the invention, two DNA molecules areprovided for use in a DNA detection method, wherein the first DNAmolecule comprises at least 11 or more contiguous polynucleotides of anyportion of the transgene region of the DNA molecule of SEQ ID NO:3 and aDNA molecule of similar length of any portion of a 5′ flanking alfalfagenomic DNA region of SEQ ID NO:3, where these DNA molecules when usedtogether are useful as DNA primers in a DNA amplification method thatproduces an amplicon. The amplicon produced using these DNA primers inthe DNA amplification method comprises SEQ ID NO: 1 and is diagnosticfor alfalfa event J-101. Any amplicon produced by DNA primers homologousor complementary to any portion of SEQ ID NO:3 that further comprisesSEQ ID NO:1 is an aspect of the invention.

According to another aspect of the invention, two DNA molecules areprovided for use in a DNA detection method, wherein the first DNAmolecule comprises at least 11 or more contiguous polynucleotides of anyportion of the transgene region of the DNA molecule of SEQ ID NO:4 and aDNA molecule of similar length of any portion of a 3′ flanking alfalfagenomic DNA of SEQ ID NO:4, wherein these DNA molecules are useful asDNA primers in a DNA amplification method. The amplicon produced usingthese DNA primers in the DNA amplification method comprises SEQ ID NO:2and is diagnostic for alfalfa event J-101. Any amplicon produced by DNAprimers homologous or complementary to any portion of SEQ ID NO:4 thatfurther comprises SEQ ID NO:2 is an aspect of the invention.

The invention further includes the alfalfa plant or seed, the genome DNAof which contains SEQ ID NO:3 or SEQ ID NO:4 or an amplicon is producedin a DNA amplification methods that comprises SEQ ID NO:1 or SEQ ID NO:2

According to another aspect of the invention, methods of detecting thepresence of DNA corresponding specifically to the alfalfa event J-101DNA in a sample are provided. Such methods comprise: (a) contacting thesample comprising DNA with a primer set that, when used in a nucleicacid amplification reaction with genomic DNA from alfalfa event J-101produces a DNA amplicon comprising SEQ ID NO:1 or SEQ ID NO:2 that isdiagnostic for alfalfa event J-101 (b) performing a nucleic acidamplification reaction, thereby producing the amplicon; and (c)detecting the amplicon.

According to another aspect of the invention, methods of detecting thepresence of DNA corresponding specifically to the alfalfa event J-101DNA in a sample are provided. Such methods comprising: (a) contactingthe sample comprising DNA with a probe comprising SEQ ID NO:1 or SEQ IDNO:2 that hybridizes under stringent hybridization conditions withgenomic DNA from alfalfa event J-101 and does not hybridize under thestringent hybridization conditions with a control alfalfa plant DNA: (b)subjecting the sample and probe to stringent hybridization conditions;and (c) detecting hybridization of the probe to the alfalfa event J-101DNA.

According to another aspect of the invention, methods of producing analfalfa plant that tolerates application of glyphosate are provided thatcomprise the steps of: (a) sexually crossing a first parental glyphosatetolerant alfalfa event J-101, and a second parental alfalfa plant thatlacks the glyphosate tolerance, thereby producing a plurality of progenyplants; and (b) selecting a progeny plant that tolerates application ofglyphosate. Breeding methods may comprise the steps of crossing theparental alfalfa event J-101 plant to a second parental alfalfa plantthat is also tolerant to glyphosate and selecting for glyphosatetolerant progeny by molecular marker DNA genetically linked to theglyphosate tolerant phenotype found in each parent.

The present invention further relates to an alfalfa transgenic eventdesignated J-163 having seed deposited with American Type CultureCollection (ATCC) with Accession No. PTA-4815. Another aspect of theinvention is the progeny plants, or seeds, or regenerable parts of theplants and seeds of the alfalfa event J-163. The invention also includesplant parts of alfalfa event J-163 that include, but are not limited topollen, ovule, flowers, shoots, roots, and leaves.

The invention provides a glyphosate tolerant alfalfa plant that has allof the physiological and morphological characteristics of the alfalfaevent J-163 of claim 1 and the progeny plants and parts thereof.

One aspect of the invention provides compositions and methods fordetecting the presence of a transgene/genomic junction region fromalfalfa event J-163. DNA molecules are provided that comprise at leastone transgene/genomic junction DNA molecule selected from the groupconsisting of SEQ ID NO:5 and SEQ ID NO:6, and complements thereof,wherein the junction molecule spans the insertion site that comprises aheterologous DNA inserted into the genome and the genomic DNA from thealfalfa cell flanking the insertion site alfalfa event J-163. An alfalfaevent J-163 and seed comprising these DNA molecules is an aspect of thisinvention.

A novel DNA molecule is provided that is a transgene/genomic region SEQID NO:7 or the complement thereof wherein this DNA molecule is novel inalfalfa event J-163. An alfalfa plant and seed comprising SEQ ID NO:7 inits genome is an aspect of this invention. According to another aspectof the invention, a DNA molecule is provided that is a transgene/genomicregion SEQ ID NO:8, or the complement thereof, wherein this DNA moleculeis novel in alfalfa event J-163. An alfalfa plant and seed comprisingSEQ ID NO:8 in its genome is an aspect of this invention.

According to another aspect of the invention, two DNA molecules areprovided for use in a DNA detection method, wherein the first DNAmolecule comprises at least 11 or more contiguous polynucleotides of anyportion of the transgene region of the DNA molecule of SEQ ID NO:7 and aDNA molecule of similar length of any portion of a 5′ flanking alfalfagenomic DNA region of SEQ ID NO:7, where these DNA molecules when usedtogether are useful as DNA primers in a DNA amplification method thatproduces an amplicon that comprises SEQ ID NO:5. The amplicon producedusing these DNA primers in the DNA amplification method is diagnosticfor alfalfa event J-163. Any amplicon comprising SEQ ID NO:5 produced byDNA primers homologous or complementary to any portion of SEQ ID NO:7 isan aspect of the invention.

According to another aspect of the invention, two DNA molecules areprovided for use in a DNA detection method, wherein the first DNAmolecule comprises at least 11 or more contiguous polynucleotides of anyportion of the transgene region of the DNA molecule of SEQ ID NO:8 and aDNA molecule of similar length of any portion of a 3′ flanking alfalfagenomic DNA of SEQ ID NO:8, where these DNA molecules are useful as DNAprimers in a DNA amplification method. The amplicon comprising SEQ IDNO:6 produced using these DNA primers in the DNA amplification method isdiagnostic for alfalfa event J-163. The amplicon comprising SEQ ID NO:6produced by DNA primers homologous or complementary to any portion ofSEQ ID NO:8 are an aspect of the invention.

An alfalfa plant or seed, the genomic DNA that when isolated from thealfalfa plant or seed produces an amplicon diagnostic for alfalfa eventJ-163 when tested in a DNA amplification method is an aspect of theinvention.

According to another aspect of the invention, methods of detecting thepresence of DNA corresponding specifically to the alfalfa event J-163DNA in a sample are provided. Such methods comprise: (a) contacting thesample comprising DNA with a primer set that, when used in a nucleicacid amplification reaction with genomic DNA from alfalfa event J-163produces an amplicon comprising SEQ ID NO:5 or SEQ ID NO:6 that isdiagnostic for alfalfa event J-163 (b) performing a nucleic acidamplification reaction, thereby producing the amplicon; and (c)detecting the amplicon.

According to another aspect of the invention, methods of detecting thepresence of DNA corresponding specifically to the alfalfa event J-163DNA in a sample are provided. Such methods comprising: (a) contactingthe sample comprising DNA with a probe comprising SEQ ID NO:5 or SEQ IDNO:6 that hybridizes under stringent hybridization conditions withgenomic DNA from alfalfa event J-163 and does not hybridize under thestringent hybridization conditions with a control alfalfa plant DNA; (b)subjecting the sample and probe to stringent hybridization conditions;and (c) detecting hybridization of the probe to the alfalfa event J-163DNA.

According to another aspect of the invention, methods of producing analfalfa plant that tolerates application of glyphosate are provided thatcomprise the steps of: (a) sexually crossing a first parental glyphosatetolerant alfalfa event J-163, and a second parental alfalfa plant thatlacks the glyphosate tolerance, thereby producing a plurality of progenyplants; and (b) selecting a progeny plant that tolerates application ofglyphosate. Breeding methods may comprise the steps of crossing theparental alfalfa event J-163 plant to a second parental alfalfa plantthat is also tolerant to glyphosate and selecting for glyphosatetolerant progeny by molecular marker DNA genetically linked to theglyphosate tolerant phenotype found in each parent.

According to a further aspect of the invention there is provided analfalfa plant or seed, wherein its genome will produce an ampliconcomprising SEQ ID NO:1, or 2, and 5 or 6 diagnostic for alfalfa eventJ-101 and alfalfa event J-163 when tested in a DNA amplification methodto amplify a DNA molecule from the alfalfa plant or seed. The alfalfaplant or seed also comprises in its genome a DNA molecule selected fromthe group consisting of SEQ ID NO:1-8.

Another aspect of the invention is a mixture of alfalfa seed, themixture comprising alfalfa event J-101 seed and alfalfa event J-163seed. A field of alfalfa plants comprising the mixture of alfalfa plantsJ-101 and 3-163 is an aspect of the invention.

The invention provides for glyphosate tolerant alfalfa plants that whengrown in a field and treated with a herbicide formulation containingglyphosate provide an essentially weed-free alfalfa hay crop.

The foregoing and other aspects of the invention will become moreapparent from the following detailed description and accompanyingdrawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1. Organization of the transgene inserts in the genomes of Alfalfaevents J-101 and J-163, and location of DNA primers and amplicons.

FIG. 2. 5′ transgene/genome DNA sequence isolated from J-101.

FIG. 3. 3′ transgene/genome DNA sequence isolated from J-101.

FIG. 4. 5′ transgene/genome DNA sequence isolated from J-163.

FIG. 5. 3′ transgene/genome DNA sequence isolated from J-163.

FIG. 6. DNA primers used to produce an amplicon from Alfalfa event J-101or J-163.

FIG. 7. Plasmid map of pMON20998 used to produce glyphosate tolerantalfalfa plants.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The invention relates to glyphosate tolerant alfalfa. In particular totwo alfalfa events, J-101 and J-163 that can be used singly, as a seedmixture, or as progeny from a breeding cross of the two events toprovide a field of alfalfa that can be treated with glyphosatecontaining herbicide formulations to provide an essentially weed-freealfalfa hay crop. The invention further relates to DNA molecules thatcan be used to specifically identify J-101 and J-163 DNA in a samplecontaining alfalfa DNA. The following definitions and methods areprovided to better define the present invention and to guide those ofordinary skill in the art in the practice of the present invention.Unless otherwise noted, terms are to be understood according toconventional usage by those of ordinary skill in the relevant art.Definitions of common terms in molecular biology may also be found inRieger et al., Glossary of Genetics: Classical and Molecular, 5thedition, Springer-Verlag: New York, 1991; and Lewin, Genes V, OxfordUniversity Press: New York, 1994. The nomenclature for DNA bases as setforth at 37 CFR § 1.822 is used.

As used herein, the term “alfalfa” means Medicago sativa and includesall plant varieties that can be bred with alfalfa. Alfalfa is alsocalled medic, the name for any plant of the genus Medicago Old Worldherbs with blue or yellow flowers similar to those of the relatedclovers. Black medic (M. lupulina) and the bur clovers (M. arabica andM. hispida) are among the annual species naturalized in North Americaand sometimes also grown for hay and pasture. Alfalfa is classified inthe division Magnoliophyta, class Magnoliopsida, order Rosales, familyLeguminosae. Unlike corn or soybeans, alfalfa plants are autotetraploid;that is, each trait is determined by genes residing in four chromosomesinstead of two. That makes genetics research very complex and adds tothe difficulty of improving alfalfa. Commercial alfalfa seed is oftencomprised of a mixture of clones that may constitute a syntheticcultivar generated by random interpollination among the selected clones,followed by one to three generations of open-pollination in isolation. Acomposite cultivar of alfalfa may also be developed by blending seed oftwo or more clones or by interpollinating clones in isolation. Informing a composite cultivar, equal quantities of seed from eachcomponent clone would be blended to form the initial breeder seed stock.Methods for breeding transgenic alfalfa plants have been described inU.S. Patent Application No. 20020042928 (herein incorporated byreference in its entirety).

As used herein, the term “comprising” means “including but not limitedto”.

“Glyphosate” refers to N-phosphonomethylglycine and its salts,Glyphosate is the active ingredient of Roundup® herbicide (MonsantoCo.). Treatments with “glyphosate herbicide” refer to treatments withthe Roundups, Roundup Ultra®, Roundup Pro® herbicide or any otherherbicide formulation containing glyphosate. Examples of commercialformulations of glyphosate include, without restriction, those sold byMonsanto Company as ROUNDUP®, ROUNDUP® ULTRA, ROUNDUP® ULTRAMAX,ROUNDUP® WEATHERMAX, ROUNDUP® CT, ROUNDUP®D EXTRA, ROUNDUP® BLKCTIVE,ROUNDUP® BIOFORCE, RODEO®, POLARJS®V, SPARK® and ACCORD® herbicides, allof which contain glyphosate as its isopropylammonium salt; those sold byMonsanto Company as ROUNDUP® DRY and RIVAL® herbicides, which containglyphosate as its ammonium salt; that sold by Monsanto Company asROUNDUP® GEOFORCE, which contains glyphosate as its sodium salt; andthat sold by Syngenta Crop Protection as TOUCHDOWN % herbicide, whichcontains glyphosate as its trimethylsulfonium salt

A transgenic “event” is produced by transformation of plant cells withheterologous DNA, i.e., a nucleic acid construct that includes atransgene of interest, regeneration of a population of plants resultingfrom the insertion of the transgene into the genome of the plant, andselection of a particular plant characterized by insertion into aparticular genome location. The term “event” refers to the originaltransformant and progeny of the transformant that include theheterologous DNA. The term “event” also refers to progeny produced by asexual outcross between the transformant and another variety thatinclude the heterologous transgene DNA. Even after repeatedback-crossing to a recurrent parent, the inserted transgene DNA andflanking DNA from the transformed parent is present in the progeny ofthe cross at the same chromosomal location. The term “event” also refersto DNA from the original transformant comprising the inserted DNA andflanking genomic sequence immediately adjacent to the inserted DNA thatwould be expected to be transferred to a progeny that receives insertedDNA including the transgene of interest as the result of a sexual crossof one parental line that includes the inserted DNA (e.g., the originaltransformant and progeny resulting from selfing) and a parental linethat does not contain the inserted DNA. The glyphosate tolerant eventsof the present invention are referred to herein as J-101 and J-163. Thepresent invention provides for the seeds and plant parts of 3-101 andJ-163 and for the seeds and plant parts of synthetic cultivars producedby the combination of the genomes of both.

A glyphosate tolerant alfalfa plant can be breed by first sexuallycrossing a first parental alfalfa plant consisting of an alfalfa plantgrown from the transgenic alfalfa plant J-101 or J-163 or an alfalfaplant that is a progeny of the cross of J-101 and J-163 that expressesthe glyphosate tolerant phenotype, and a second parental alfalfa plantthat lacks the tolerance to glyphosate herbicide, thereby producing aplurality of first progeny plants; and then selecting a progeny plantthat is tolerant to application of glyphosate herbicide. These steps canfurther include the back-crossing of the glyphosate tolerant progenyplant to the second parental alfalfa plant or a third parental alfalfaplant, then selecting progeny by application with glyphosate or byidentification with molecular markers associated with the trait therebyproducing an alfalfa plant that tolerates the application of glyphosateherbicide. Molecular markers comprise the junction sequences identifiedat the 5′ and 3′ sites of insertion of the transgene in alfalfa J-101and J-163.

Applications of herbicide formulations that contain glyphosate can beapplied to a field of alfalfa plants that comprise J-101 or J-163, or amixture of the seed of each, or a synthetic cultivar that contains thegenomic portions of J-101 and J-163 that contain the transgene of thepresent invention. The rates of glyphosate treatments to the field canbe up to about 6 pounds of acid equivalent (lb ae)/year divided intomultiple applications where no one treatment exceeds about 1.5 lb aeglyphosate. These rates provide a high level of weed control in thefield of alfalfa. The hay crop cut from the alfalfa field is of highquality and essentially weed free.

It is also to be understood that two different transgenic plants canalso be mated to produce offspring that contain two independentlysegregating, exogenous transgenes. Back-crossing to a parental plant andout-crossing with a non-transgenic plant as previously described is alsocontemplated, as is vegetative propagation. Descriptions of otherbreeding methods that are commonly used for different traits and cropscan be found in one of several references, e.g., Fehr, in BreedingMethods for Cultivar Development, Wilcox J. ed., American Society ofAgronomy, Madison Wis. (1987). Specifically for alfalfa breeding, themethods described in U.S. Patent Application No. 20020042928 areparticularly useful for breeding transgenic alfalfa events. Theresulting alfalfa plant and seed comprise a mixture of the genotypes oftransgenic alfalfa events. The genotypes result from crosses ofdihomogenics (AxxxByyy, where A and B are the transgenes) that areobtained from crossing (AxxxyyyY)×(xxxxByyy) and the dihomogenic progenyare identified by PCR. Intercrossing of the dihomogenics results in thesynthetic alfalfa cultivar that is the commercial product. In thepresent invention, a commercial alfalfa product can contain genomicmixture that comprises J-101 and J-163 transgene/genome DNA.

A “probe” is an isolated nucleic acid to which is attached aconventional detectable label or reporter molecule, e.g., a radioactiveisotope, ligand, chemiluminescent agent, or enzyme. Such a probe iscomplementary to a strand of a target nucleic acid, in the case of thepresent invention, to a strand of genomic DNA from alfalfa event whetherfrom an alfalfa plant or from a sample that includes DNA from the event.Probes according to the present invention include not onlydeoxyribonucleic or ribonucleic acids but also polyamides and otherprobe materials that bind specifically to a target DNA sequence and canbe used to detect the presence of that target DNA sequence.

“Primers” are isolated polynucleic acids that are annealed to acomplementary target DNA strand by nucleic acid hybridization to form ahybrid between the primer and the target DNA strand, then extended alongthe target DNA strand by a polymerase, e.g., a DNA polymerase. Primerpairs of the present invention refer to their use for amplification of atarget nucleic acid sequence, e.g., by the polymerase chain reaction(PCR) or other conventional nucleic-acid amplification methods.

Probes and primers are generally 11 polynucleotides or more in length,preferably 18 polynucleotides or more, more preferably 24polynucleotides or 30 polynucleotides or more. Such probes and primershybridize specifically to a target sequence under high stringencyhybridization conditions. Preferably, probes and primers according tothe present invention have complete sequence identity with the targetsequence, although probes differing from the target sequence and thatretain the ability to hybridize to target sequences under highstringency conditions may be designed by conventional methods.

Methods for preparing and using probes and primers are described, forexample, in Molecular Cloning: A Laboratory Manual, 2nd ed., vol. 1-3,ed. Sambrook et al., Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press, Cold SpringHarbor, N.Y., 1989 (hereinafter, “Sambrook et al., 1989”); CurrentProtocols in Molecular Biology, ed. Ausubel et al., Greene Publishingand Wiley-Interscience, New York, 1992 (with periodic updates)(hereinafter, “Ausubel et al., 1992”); and Innis et al., PCR Protocols:A Guide to Methods and Applications, Academic Press: San Diego, 1990.PCR-primer pairs (a primer set) can be derived from a known sequence,for example, by using computer programs intended for that purpose suchas Primer (Version 0.5, © 1991, Whitehead Institute for BiomedicalResearch, Cambridge, Mass.).

Primers and probes based on the flanking genomic DNA and insertsequences disclosed herein can be used to confirm (and, if necessary, tocorrect) the disclosed sequences by conventional methods, e.g., byre-cloning and sequencing such sequences.

The nucleic acid probes and primers of the present invention hybridizeunder stringent conditions to a target DNA sequence. Any conventionalnucleic acid hybridization or amplification method can be used toidentify the presence of DNA from a transgenic event in a sample.Nucleic acid molecules or fragments thereof are capable of specificallyhybridizing to other nucleic acid molecules under certain circumstances.As used herein, two nucleic acid molecules are said to be capable ofspecifically hybridizing to one another if the two molecules are capableof forming an anti-parallel, double-stranded nucleic acid structure andare of sufficient length to maintain this structure under highstringency conditions. A nucleic acid molecule is said to be the“complement” of another nucleic acid molecule if they exhibit completecomplementarity. As used herein, molecules are said to exhibit “completecomplementarity” when every nucleotide of one of the molecules iscomplementary to a nucleotide of the other. Two molecules are said to be“minimally complementary” if they can hybridize to one another withsufficient stability to permit them to remain annealed to one anotherunder at least conventional “low-stringency” conditions. Similarly, themolecules are said to be “complementary” if they can hybridize to oneanother with sufficient stability to permit them to remain annealed toone another under conventional “high-stringency” conditions.Conventional stringency conditions are described by Sambrook et al.,1989, and by Haymes et al., In: Nucleic Acid Hybridization, A PracticalApproach, IRL Press, Washington, D.C. (1985), Departures from completecomplementarity are therefore permissible, as long as such departures donot completely preclude the capacity of the molecules to form adouble-stranded structure. In order for a nucleic acid molecule to serveas a primer or probe it need only be sufficiently complementary insequence to be able to form a stable double-stranded structure under theparticular solvent and salt concentrations employed.

As used herein, a substantially homologous sequence is a nucleic acidsequence that will specifically hybridize to the complement of thenucleic acid sequence to which it is being compared under highstringency conditions. Appropriate stringency conditions which promoteDNA hybridization, for example, 6.0×sodium chloride/sodium citrate (SSC)at about 45° C., followed by a wash of 2.0×SSC at 50° C., are known tothose skilled in the art or can be found in Current Protocols inMolecular Biology, John Wiley & Sons, N.Y. (1989), 6.3.1-6.3.6. Forexample, the salt concentration in the wash step can be selected from alow stringency of about 2.0×SSC at 50° C. to a high stringency of about0.2×SSC at 50° C. In addition, the temperature in the wash step can beincreased from low stringency conditions at room temperature, about 22°C., to high stringency conditions at about 65° C. Both temperature andsalt may be varied, or either the temperature or the salt concentrationmay be held constant while the other variable is changed. In a preferredembodiment, a nucleic acid of the present invention will specificallyhybridize to one or more of the nucleic acid molecules set forth in SEQID NO:1-8, complements thereof or fragments of either under moderatelystringent conditions, for example at about 2.0×SSC and about 65° C. In aparticularly preferred embodiment, a nucleic acid of the presentinvention will specifically hybridize to one or more of the nucleic acidmolecules set forth in SEQ ID NO:1-8, complements thereof or fragmentsof either under high stringency conditions. In one aspect of the presentinvention, a preferred marker nucleic acid molecule of the presentinvention comprises the nucleic acid sequence as set forth in SEQ IDNO:1 or SEQ ID NO:2 or SEQ ID NO: 5 or SEQ ID NO:6 complements thereofor fragments of either. In another aspect of the present invention, apreferred marker nucleic acid molecule of the present invention sharesbetween 80% and 100% or 90% and 100% sequence identity with the nucleicacid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:1 or SEQ ID NO:2 or SEQ ID NO: 5 orSEQ ID NO:6 complements thereof or fragments of either. Molecular markerDNA molecules that comprise SEQ ID NO:1, or SEQ ID NO:2, or SEQ ID NO: 5or SEQ ID NO:6 complements thereof or fragments of either may be used asmarkers in plant breeding methods to identify the progeny of geneticcrosses similar to the methods described for simple sequence repeat DNAmarker analysis, in “DNA markers: Protocols, applications, andoverviews: (1997) 173-185, Cregan, et al., eds., Wiley-Liss NY; all ofwhich is herein incorporated by reference in its' entirely. Thehybridization of the probe to the target DNA molecule can be detected byany number of methods known to those skilled in the art, these caninclude, but are not limited to, fluorescent tags, radioactive tags,antibody based tags, and chemiluminescent tags.

Regarding the amplification of a target nucleic acid sequence (e.g., byPCR) using a particular amplification primer pair, “stringentconditions” are conditions that permit the primer pair to hybridize onlyto the target nucleic-acid sequence to which a primer having thecorresponding wild-type sequence (or its complement) would bind andpreferably to produce a unique amplification product, the amplicon, in aDNA thermal amplification reaction.

The term “specific for (a target sequence)” indicates that a probe orprimer hybridizes under stringent hybridization conditions only to thetarget sequence in a sample comprising the target sequence.

As used herein, “amplified DNA” or “amplicon” refers to the product ofnucleic acid amplification of a target nucleic acid sequence that ispart of a nucleic acid template. For example, to determine whether thealfalfa plant resulting from a sexual cross contains transgenic eventJ-101 or J-163 or both genomic DNA, DNA extracted from a alfalfa planttissue sample may be subjected to a nucleic acid amplification methodusing a primer pair that includes a primer derived from the genomicregion adjacent to the insertion site of inserted heterologous transgeneDNA, and a second primer derived from the inserted heterologoustransgene DNA to produce an amplicon that is diagnostic for the presenceof the event DNA. The amplicon is of a length and has a sequence that isalso diagnostic for the event. The amplicon may range in length from thecombined length of the primer pairs plus one nucleotide base pair, orplus about fifty nucleotide base pairs, or plus about two hundred-fiftynucleotide base pairs, or plus about three hundred-fifty nucleotide basepairs or more. Alternatively, a primer pair can be derived from flankinggenomic sequence on both sides of the inserted DNA so as to produce anamplicon that includes the entire insert nucleotide sequence. A memberof a primer pair derived from the plant genomic sequence may be locateda distance from the inserted DNA sequence, this distance can range fromone nucleotide base pair up to about twenty thousand nucleotide basepairs. The use of the term “amplicon” specifically excludes primerdimers that may be formed in the DNA thermal amplification reaction.

Nucleic acid amplification can be accomplished by any of the variousnucleic acid amplification reaction methods known in the art, includingthe polymerase chain reaction (PCR). A variety of amplification methodsare known in the art and are described, irter alia, in U.S. Pat. Nos.4,683,195 and 4,683,202 and in PCR Protocols: A Guide to Methods andApplications, ed. Innis et al., Academic Press, San Diego, 1990. PCRamplification methods have been developed to amplify up to 22 kb ofgenomic DNA and up to 42 kb of bacteriophage DNA (Cheng et al., Proc.Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 91:5695-5699, 1994). These methods as well as othermethods known in the art of DNA amplification may be used in thepractice of the present invention. The sequence of the heterologous DNAinsert or flanking sequence from alfalfa event J-101 and J-163 can beverified (and corrected if necessary) by amplifying such sequences fromthe event genome using primers derived from the sequences providedherein and genomic DNA extracted from the representative samplesdeposited with the ATCC as PTA-4814 and PTA-4815, followed by standardDNA sequencing methods applied to the PCR amplicon or to isolated clonedtransgene/genomic DNA.

The amplicon produced by these methods may be detected by a plurality oftechniques. One such method is Genetic Bit Analysis (Nikiforov, et al.Nucleic Acid Res. 22:4167-4175, 1994) where an DNA oligonucleotide isdesigned which overlaps both the adjacent flanking genomic DNA sequenceand the inserted DNA transgene sequence. The oligonucleotide isimmobilized in wells of a microwell plate. Following PCR of the regionof interest (using one primer in the inserted sequence and one in theadjacent flanking genomic sequence), a single-stranded PCR product canbe hybridized to the immobilized oligonucleotide and serve as a templatefor a single base extension reaction using a DNA polymerase and labelledddNTPs specific for the expected next base. Readout may be fluorescentor ELISA-based. A signal indicates presence of the insert/flankinggenomic sequence due to successful amplification, hybridization, andsingle base extension.

Another method is the Pyrosequencing technique as described by Winge(Innov. Pharma. Tech. 00:18-24, 2000). In this method an oligonucleotideis designed that overlaps the adjacent genomic DNA and insert DNAjunction. The oligonucleotide is hybridized to single-stranded PCRproduct from the region of interest (one primer in the inserted sequenceand one in the flanking genomic sequence) and incubated in the presenceof a DNA polymerase, ATP, sulfurylase, luciferase, apyrase, adenosine 5′phosphosulfate and luciferin. DNTPs are added individually and theincorporation results in a light signal, which is measured. A lightsignal indicates the presence of the transgene insert/flanking sequencedue to successful amplification, hybridization, and single or multi-baseextension.

Fluorescence Polarization as described by Chen, et al., (Genome Res.9:492-498, 1999) is a method that can be used to detect the amplicon ofthe present invention. Using this method an oligonucleotide is designedwhich overlaps the genomic flanking and inserted DNA junction. Theoligonucleotide is hybridized to single-stranded PCR product from theregion of interest (one primer in the inserted DNA and one in theflanking genomic DNA sequence) and incubated in the presence of a DNApolymerase and a fluorescent-labeled ddNTP. Single base extensionresults in incorporation of the ddNTP. Incorporation can be measured asa change in polarization using a fluorometer. A change in polarizationindicates the presence of the transgene insert/flanking genomic sequencedue to successful amplification, hybridization, and single baseextension.

Taqman® (PE Applied Biosystems, Foster City, Calif.) is described as amethod of detecting and quantifying the presence of a DNA sequence andis fully understood in the instructions provided by the manufacturer.Briefly, a FRET oligonucleotide probe is designed that overlaps thegenomic flanking and insert DNA junction. The FRET probe and PCR primers(one primer in the insert DNA sequence and one in the flanking genomicsequence) are cycled in the presence of a thermostable polymerase anddNTPs. Hybridization of the FRET probe results in cleavage and releaseof the fluorescent moiety away from the quenching moiety on the FRETprobe. A fluorescent signal indicates the presence of the flankinggenomic/transgene insert sequence due to successful amplification andhybridization.

Molecular Beacons have been described for use in sequence detection asdescribed in Tyangi, et al. (Nature Biotech. 14:303-308, 1996) Briefly,a FRET oligonucleotide probe is designed that overlaps the flankinggenomic and insert DNA junction. The unique structure of the FRET proberesults in it containing secondary structure that keeps the fluorescentand quenching moieties in close proximity. The FRET probe and PCRprimers (one primer in the insert DNA sequence and one in the flankinggenomic sequence) are cycled in the presence of a thermostablepolymerase and dNTPs. Following successful PCR amplification,hybridization of the FRET probe to the target sequence results in theremoval of the probe secondary structure and spatial separation of thefluorescent and quenching moieties. A fluorescent signal results. Afluorescent signal indicates the presence of the flankinggenomic/transgene insert sequence due to successful amplification andhybridization.

DNA detection kits can be developed using the compositions disclosedherein and the methods well known in the art of DNA detection. The kitsare useful for the identification of alfalfa event DNA in a sample andcan be applied to methods for breeding alfalfa plants containing DNA.The kits may contain DNA primers or probes that are homologous orcomplementary to SEQ ID NO:1-8 or DNA primers or probes homologous orcomplementary to DNA contained in the transgene genetic elements of DNA,these DNA sequences can be used in DNA amplification reactions or asprobes in a DNA hybridization method. The sequences of the transgenegenetic elements contained in the alfalfa genome (FIG. 1) consists afragment of the right border region from Agrobacterium tumefaciens, theFigwort mosaic promoter (U.S. Pat. No. 6,018,100, herein incorporated byreference in its entirety), wherein the promoter has been duplicated(herein referred to as P-eFMV or P-FMV35Sen) and is operably connectedto a Petunia hybrida Hsp70 leader (herein referred to as HSP70 orL-Ph.Hsp70, U.S. Pat. No. 5,659,122, herein incorporated by reference inits entirety) and an Arabidopsis EPSPS chloroplast transit peptidecoding sequence (herein referred to as CTP2 or TS-AtEPSPS CTP2, U.S.Pat. No. 5,633,435, herein incorporated by reference in its entirety),operably connected to a glyphosate resistant EPSPS (herein referred toas CP4 EPSPS or aroA:CP4, isolated from Agrobacterium tumefaciens strainCP4, U.S. Pat. No. 5,633,435), operably connected to the 3′ terminationregion from pea ribulose 1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase (herein referredto as E9 3, or T-Ps.RbcS:E9, Coruzzi, et al., EMBO J. 3:1671-1679,1984), and the left border (LB) region from Agrobacterium tumefaciens.DNA molecules useful as primers in DNA amplification methods can bederived from the sequences of the genetic elements of the transgeneinsert contained in alfalfa event. These primer molecules can be used aspart of a primer set that also includes a DNA primer molecule derivedfrom the genome of event flanking the transgene insert.

Alfalfa events J-101 and J-163 were produced by transformation ofAlfalfa line R2336 by modification of an Agrobacterium mediated method(Walker et al., Plant Cell, Tissue and Organ Culture 1:109-121, 1981).Briefly, sterile alfalfa leaf pieces (2-3 mm) are mixed with asuspension of Agrobacterium (containing pMON20998, FIG. 7) with 0.05%silwet L-77 (Setre Chemical Co., Memphis, Tenn.). The pieces are blottedonto sterile filter paper, then placed onto sterile filter paper restingon a spread of alfalfa suspension cells, then co-cultivate for 3 days.Following co-cultivation, the explants are transferred to SHDN mediacontaining 500 mg/L ticarcillin (Gujisawa Chemicals, MN), after 3 days,the explants are transferred to SHDN media containing 5 mM glyphosate,500 mg/L ticarcillin, the explants are transferred to fresh media every2-3 weeks for 8-9 weeks. Shoots are rooted and transferred to soil.

The following examples are included to demonstrate examples of certainpreferred embodiments of the invention. It should be appreciated bythose of skill in the art that the techniques disclosed in the examplesthat follow represent approaches the inventors have found function wellin the practice of the invention, and thus can be considered toconstitute examples of preferred modes for its practice. However, thoseof skill in the art should, in light of the present disclosure,appreciate that many changes can be made in the specific embodimentsthat are disclosed and still obtain a like or similar result withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the invention.

EXAMPLES Example 1

DNA from transgenic alfalfa event J-101 or J-163 was extracted fromalfalfa seeds. The DNA was isolated from the seed tissue using Qiagen'sDNeasy Plant Miniprep Kit according to the manufacturer's instructions(Qiagen Corp. Valencia, Calif.). PCR of the genomic DNA sequencesflanking the 5′ end of the T-DNA insertion in events J-101 or J-163 wasperformed using one primer designed to the genomic DNA sequencesflanking the 5′ end of the transgene insert of each event (DNA primers A(SEQ ID NO:9), and E (SEQ ID NO:10), FIG. 1) paired with a second primer(DNA primer Z (SEQ ID NO:11), FIG. 1) located at the 5′ end of theinsert in the duplicated FMV35S promoter (P-FMV35Sen, tandem duplicationof the promoter from the Figwort mosaic virus, U.S. Pat. No. 6,018,100).PCR analysis of the genomic DNA sequences flanking the 3′ end of theT-DNA insertion in events J-101 or J-163 was performed using one primerdesigned to the genomic DNA sequences flanking the 3′ end of the insertof each event (DNA primers B (SEQ ID NO:12) and F (SEQ ID NO:13),FIG. 1) paired with a DNA primer Y (SEQ ID NO:14, FIG. 1) located in theE9 3′ transcription termination sequence at the 3′ end of the insert.The DNA sequences of these primer molecules are shown in FIG. 6. The PCRanalyses were performed using −50 nanogram (ng) of events J-101 andJ-163 genomic DNA and −50 ng of genomic DNA template from thenon-transgenic alfalfa cultivar R2336 as a negative control. Each PCRreaction contained, 5 μl 10× Buffer for REDAccuTaq™ LA DNA PolymeraseMix (Sigma-Aldrich, St Louis, Mo.), 200 μM each DNTP (Sigma-Aldrich),0.4 μM each primer, and 2.5 Units JumpStart™ REDTaq™ DNA Polymerase(Sigma-Aldrich) in a 50 μl total volume reaction. The PCR reactions wereperformed under the following cycling conditions: 1 cycle at 94° C. for3 min; 32 or 35 cycles at 94° C. for 30 s, 58° C. for 30 s, 72° C. for30 s or 1 min; 1 cycle at 72° C. for 10 min.

DNA event primer pairs are used to produce an amplicon diagnostic forJ-101 or J-163 genomic DNA. These event primer pairs include, but arenot limited to primers A and Z, and Y and B for J-101, and primer E andZ, and Y and F for J-163 that are used in the described DNAamplification method. In addition to these primer pairs, any primer pairderived from SEQ ID NO:3 or SEQ ID NO:4, or SEQ ID NO:7 or SEQ ID NO:8,or the complements thereof, that when used in a DNA amplificationreaction produces an amplicon diagnostic for alfalfa J-101 or J-163events, respectively, is an aspect of the present invention. DNAamplification conditions illustrated in Table 1 and Table 2 can be usedto produce a diagnostic amplicon from J-101 or 3-163 using theappropriate event primer pairs. A diagnostic amplicon comprises SEQ IDNO:1 or SEQ ID NO:2 for 3-101, and SEQ ID NO:5 or SEQ ID NO:6 for J-163.Any modification of these methods used to produce an amplicon diagnosticfor J-101 or J-163 event is within the ordinary skill of the art. Analfalfa plant or seed, the genome of which produces an amplicondiagnostic for alfalfa event J-101 or J-163 when tested in a DNAamplification method is an aspect of the present invention.

The amplicon produced by the use of at least one primer sequence derivedfrom SEQ ID NO:3 or SEQ ID NO:4 for J-101, or at least one primersequence derived from SEQ ID NO:7 or SEQ ID NO:8 for J-163, that whenused in a PCR method produces a diagnostic amplicon comprising SEQ IDNO:1, or 2, or 5 or 6 is an aspect of the invention. The production ofthe J-101 or J-163 amplicons can be performed using a StratageneRobocycler, MJ Engine, Perkin-Elmer 9700, or Eppendorf MastercyclerGradient thermocycler as shown in Table 2, or by methods and apparatusknown to those skilled in the art. TABLE 1 PCR procedure and reactionmixture conditions for the identification of alfalfa J-101 5′ transgeneinsert/genomic junction region. Step Reagent Amount Comments 1Nuclease-free water add to final volume of 20 μl — 2 10X reaction buffer2.0 μl 1X final (with MgCl₂) concentration of buffer, 1.5 mM finalconcentration of MgCl₂ 3 10 mM solution of dATP, 0.4 μl 200 μM finaldCTP, dGTP, and dTTP concentration of each dNTP 4 Event primer A (SEQ IDNO: 9 0.2 μl 0.1 μM final resuspended in 1X TE buffer or concentrationnuclease-free water to a concentration of 10 μM) 5 Event primer Z (SEQID NO: 11 0.2 μl 0.1 μM final resuspended in 1X TE buffer orconcentration nuclease-free water to a concentration of 10 pM) 6 RNase,DNase free (500 μg/ml) 0.1 μl 50 ng/reaction 7 REDTaq DNA polymerase 1.0μl (recommended to switch 1 unit/reaction (1 unit/μl) pipets prior tonext step) 8 Extracted DNA (template): — Samples to be analyzed:individual leaves 10-200 ng of genomic DNA pooled leaves (maximum 200 ngof genomic DNA of 10 leaves/pool) Negative control 50 ng ofnon-transgenic alfalfa genomic DNA Negative control no template DNA(solution in which DNA was resuspended) Positive control 50 ng ofalfalfa J-101 genomic DNA

Gently mix and, if needed (no hot top on thermocycler), add 1-2 drops ofmineral oil on top of each reaction. Proceed with the PCR in aStratagene Robocycler, MJ Engine, Perkin-Elmer 9700, or EppendorfMastercycler Gradient thermocycler using the following cyclingparameters (Table 2). The MJ Engine or Eppendorf Mastercycler Gradientthermocycler should be run in the calculated mode. Run the Perkin-Elmer9700 thermocycler with the ramp speed set at maximum. TABLE 2Thermocycler conditions Cycle No. Settings: Stratagene Robocycler 1 94°C.  3 minutes 34 94° C.  1 minute 64° C.  1 minute 72° C.  1 minute and30 seconds 1 72° C. 10 minutes Cycle No. Settings: MJ Engine orPerkin-Elmer 9700 1 94° C.  3 minutes 34 94° C. 30 seconds 64° C. 30seconds 72° C.  1 minute 1 72° C. 10 minutes Cycle No. Settings:Eppendorf Mastercycler Gradient 1 94° C.  3 minutes 34 94° C. 15 seconds64° C. 15 seconds 72° C.  1 minute 1 72° C. 10 minutes

Example 2

DNA sequencing of the PCR products provides for DNA that can be used todesign additional DNA molecules as primers and probes for theidentification of alfalfa J-101 or 3-163. PCR products of the expectedsizes representing the 5′ and 3′ transgene/genomic sequences wereisolated by separation of the PCR products on a 2.0% agarose gel byelectrophoresis. PCR products were isolated that are the 5′ and 3′ DNAregions that span the insert junction between the transgene insertioninto the alfalfa genome. The 5′ and 3′ PCR products for events J-101 andJ-163 were purified by agarose gel electrophoresis followed by isolationfrom the agarose matrix using the QIAquick Gel Extraction Kit (catalog #28704, Qiagen Inc., Valencia, Calif.). The purified PCR products werethen sequenced with by DNA sequence analysis (ABI Prism™ 377, PEBiosystems, Foster City, Calif. and DNASTAR sequence analysis software,DNASTAR Inc., Madison, Wis.).

The DNA sequence was determined for a 678 nucleotide base pair segment(FIG. 2) representing the 5′ transgene/genomic sequence of alfalfa J-101(FIG. 1) event and identified in SEQ ID NO:3. The DNA primers areindicated on FIG. 1 as well as the SEQ ID Nos. The DNA sequence wasdetermined for a 581 nucleotide base pair segment (FIG. 3) representingthe 3′ transgene/genomic sequence of alfalfa J-101 (FIG. 1) event andidentified in SEQ ID NO:4. The sequence data shown in FIG. 2 consists ofthe 5′ amplicon encompassing 393 bases of alfalfa genomic DNA(underlined), and 285 bases of the transgene insert containing 2 bp ofright border region, 83 bases of polylinker, and 200 bases of theP-FMV35Sen promoter. The sequence data shown in FIG. 3 consists of the3′ amplicon encompassing 140 bases of the E9 3′ polyadenylation signalsequence and 177 bases of polylinker from the transgene insert, as wellas 264 bases representing the alfalfa genomic DNA sequence (underlined)flanking the 3′ end of the transgene insert in event 1101.

The DNA sequence was determined for a 481 nucleotide base pair segment(FIG. 4) representing the 5′ transgene/genomic sequence of alfalfa J-163event and identified in SEQ ID NO:7. The DNA sequence was determined fora 550 nucleotide base pair segment (FIG. 5) representing the 3′transgene/genomic sequence of alfalfa J-101 event and identified in SEQID NO:8. The sequence data shown in FIG. 4 consists of the 5′ ampliconencompassing 224 bases of alfalfa genomic DNA flanking sequence(underlined), and 257 bases of the transgene insert containing 57 basesof polylinker and 200 bases of the P-FMV35Sen promoter. The sequencedata shown in FIG. 5 consists of the 3′ amplicon encompassing 140 basesof the E9 3′ transcription termination sequence, 218 bases of DNAtransgene construct sequence and 192 bases of the alfalfa genomic DNAsequence (underlined) flanking the 3′ end of the DNA transgene insert inevent J163.

The junction sequences are relatively short polynucleotide moleculesthat are novel DNA sequences and are diagnostic for alfalfa event J-101and J-163 and progeny thereof. The junction sequences in SEQ ID NO:1 andSEQ ID NO:2 represent 9 polynucleotides on each side of an insertionsite of the transgene sequence fragment and alfalfa genomic DNA inJ-101, longer or shorter polynucleotide junction sequences can beselected from SEQ ID NO:3 or SEQ ID NO:4. The junction sequences in SEQID NO:5 and SEQ ID NO:6 represent 9 polynucleotides on each side of aninsertion site of the transgene sequence fragment and alfalfa genomicDNA in J-163, longer or shorter polynucleotide junction sequences can beselected from SEQ ID NO:7 or SEQ ID NO:8. The junction molecules (SEQ IDNO:1, 2, 5 and 6) are useful as DNA probes or DNA primer molecules inmethods for DNA detection. DNA amplicons comprising the junctionmolecules SEQ ID NO:1, 2, 5 or 6 are aspects of the present invention,as well as the alfalfa plants and parts thereof from which the DNAamplicons are produced in DNA amplification methods that contain alfalfagenomic DNA.

A deposit of the Monsanto Technology LLC, alfalfa seed of events J-101and J-163 disclosed above and recited in the claims has been made underthe Budapest Treaty with the American Type Culture Collection (ATCC),10801 University Boulevard, Manassas, Va. 20110. The ATCC accessionnumber for J-101 is PTA-4814 and for J-163 is PTA-4815. The deposit willbe maintained in the depository for a period of 30 years, or 5 yearsafter the last request, or for the effective life of the patent,whichever is longer, and will be replaced as necessary during thatperiod.

Having illustrated and described the principles of the presentinvention, it should be apparent to persons skilled in the art that theinvention can be modified in arrangement and detail without departingfrom such principles. We claim all modifications that are within thespirit and scope of the appended claims.

All publications and published patent documents cited in thisspecification are incorporated herein by reference to the same extent asif each individual publication or patent application was specificallyand individually indicated to be incorporated by reference.

1. Seed of alfalfa plant designated J-101 and having representative seeddeposited with American Type Culture Collection (ATCC) with AccessionNo. PTA-4814.
 2. The alfalfa plant J-101 or parts thereof produced bygrowing the seed of claim
 1. 3. The alfalfa plant J-101 or parts thereofof claim 2, comprising pollen, ovule, flowers, shoots, roots, or leaves.4. The alfalfa plant J-101 of claim 2 further comprising progenythereof.
 5. The alfalfa plant J-101 of claim 4, wherein the genome ofsaid alfalfa plant J-101 comprises a DNA molecule selected from thegroup consisting of SEQ ID NO:1, SEQ ID NO:2, SEQ ID NO:3, and SEQ IDNO:4.
 6. The alfalfa plant J-101 or seed or parts thereof of claim 4,the genome of which produces an amplicon comprising SEQ ID NO:1 or SEQID NO:2 in a DNA amplification method.
 7. An isolated DNA polynucleotideprimer molecule comprising at least 11 contiguous nucleotides of SEQ IDNO:3, or its complement that is useful in a DNA amplification method toproduce an amplicon comprising SEQ ID NO:1.
 8. An isolated DNApolynucleotide primer molecule comprising at least 11 contiguousnucleotides of SEQ ID NO:4, or its complement that is useful in a DNAamplification method to produce an amplicon comprising SEQ ID NO:2.
 9. ADNA detection kit comprising at least one molecule of II or morecontiguous nucleotides homologous or complementary to SEQ ID NO:3 or SEQID NO:4, that when used in a DNA amplification methods produces anamplicon comprising SEQ ID NO:1 or SEQ ID NO:2.
 10. A method ofproducing a plant that tolerates application of glyphosate herbicidecomprising: (a) sexually crossing a first glyphosate tolerant alfalfaevent J-101 and a second parent plant that lacks the tolerance toglyphosate herbicide, thereby producing a plurality of first progenyplants; and (b) selecting a first progeny plant that is tolerant toapplication of glyphosate; and (c) selfing said first progeny plant,thereby producing a plurality of second progeny plants; and (d)selecting from said second progeny plants a glyphosate tolerant plant.11. A method of detecting the presence of DNA corresponding to thealfalfa plant J-101 DNA in a sample, the method comprising: (a)contacting the sample comprising DNA with a primer pair, which when usedin a nucleic acid amplification reaction with genomic DNA from alfalfaplant J-101, produces an amplicon comprising SEQ ID NO:1 or SEQ ID NO:2;and (b) performing a nucleic acid amplification reaction, therebyproducing the amplicon; and (c) detecting the amplicon.
 12. A method ofdetecting the presence of a DNA corresponding to alfalfa J-101 in asample, the method comprising: (a) contacting the sample comprising DNAwith a probe that hybridizes under stringent hybridization conditionswith genomic DNA from alfalfa J-101 and does not hybridize under thestringent hybridization conditions with a control alfalfa plant, whereinsaid probe is homologous or complementary to SEQ ID NO:1 or SEQ ID NO:2;and (b) subjecting the sample and probe to stringent hybridizationconditions; and (c) detecting hybridization of the probe to the DNA. 13.An alfalfa plant comprising a glyphosate tolerant trait that isgenetically linked to a complement of a marker polynucleic acid, whereinsaid marker polynucleic acid molecule comprises SEQ ID NO:1 or SEQ IDNO:2.
 14. Seed of alfalfa plant designated J-163 and havingrepresentative seed deposited with American Type Culture Collection(ATCC) with Accession No. PTA-4815.
 15. The alfalfa plant J-163 or partsthereof produced by growing the seed of claim
 14. 16. The alfalfa plantJ-163 or parts thereof of claim 15, comprising pollen, ovule, flowers,shoots, roots, or leaves.
 17. The alfalfa plant J-163 of claim 15further comprising progeny thereof.
 18. The alfalfa plant J-163 of claim17, wherein the genome of said alfalfa plant J-163 comprises a DNAmolecule selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO:5, SEQ ID NO:6,SEQ ID NO:7, and SEQ ID NO:8.
 19. The alfalfa plant J-163 or seed orparts thereof of claim 17, the genome of which produces an ampliconcomprising SEQ ID NO:5 or SEQ ID NO:6 in a DNA amplification method. 20.An isolated DNA polynucleotide primer molecule comprising at least 11contiguous nucleotides of SEQ ID NO:7 or its complement that is usefulin a DNA amplification method to produce an amplicon comprising SEQ IDNO:5.
 21. An isolated DNA polynucleotide primer molecule comprising atleast 11 contiguous nucleotides of SEQ ID NO:8, or its complement thatis useful in a DNA amplification method to produce an ampliconcomprising SEQ ID NO:6.
 22. A DNA detection kit comprising at least onemolecule of 11 or more contiguous nucleotides homologous orcomplementary to SEQ ID NO:7 or SEQ ID NO:8, that when used in a DNAamplification methods produces an amplicon comprising SEQ ID NO:5 or SEQID NO:6.
 23. A method of producing a plant that tolerates application ofglyphosate herbicide comprising: (a) sexually crossing a firstglyphosate tolerant alfalfa event J-163 and a second parent plant thatlacks the tolerance to glyphosate herbicide, thereby producing aplurality of first progeny plants; and (b) selecting a first progenyplant that is tolerant to application of glyphosate; and (c) selfingsaid first progeny plant, thereby producing a plurality of secondprogeny plants; and (d) selecting from said second progeny plants aglyphosate tolerant plant.
 24. A method of detecting the presence of DNAcorresponding to the alfalfa event J-163 event in a sample, the methodcomprising: (a) contacting the sample comprising DNA with a primer pair,which when used in a nucleic acid amplification reaction with genomicDNA from alfalfa event J-163, produces a diagnostic amplicon comprisingSEQ ID NO:5 or SEQ ID NO:6; and (b) performing a nucleic acidamplification reaction, thereby producing the diagnostic amplicon; and(c) detecting the diagnostic amplicon.
 25. A method of detecting thepresence of a DNA corresponding to alfalfa event J-163 in a sample, themethod comprising: (a) contacting the sample comprising DNA with a probethat hybridizes under stringent hybridization conditions with genomicDNA from alfalfa event J-163 and does not hybridize under the stringenthybridization conditions with a control alfalfa plant, wherein saidprobe is homologous or complementary to SEQ ID NO:5 or SEQ ID NO:6; and(b) subjecting the sample and probe to stringent hybridizationconditions; and detecting hybridization of the probe to the DNA.
 26. Analfalfa plant comprising a glyphosate tolerant trait that is geneticallylinked to a complement of a marker polynucleic acid, wherein said markerpolynucleic acid molecule comprises SEQ ID NO:5 or SEQ ID NO:6.
 27. Analfalfa plant or seed, the genome of which produces an ampliconcomprising a DNA molecule selected from the group consisting of SEQ IDNO:1, 2, 5, and 6 when tested in a DNA amplification method.
 28. Thealfalfa plant or seed of claim 27, wherein its genome comprises a DNAmolecule selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO:1-8.
 29. Analfalfa plant transformed with the plant expression cassette ofpMON20998.
 30. An admixture of seed of alfalfa plants J-101 and J-163.31. A field of plants grown from the mixture of seed of claim
 30. 32. Amethod of producing essentially weed-free alfalfa hay comprising thesteps (a) planting a field using seed consisting essentially of seed ofclaim 6 or claim 19 or any mixture of the two types; (b) applying to theresulting field of alfalfa plants one or more doses of glyphosatesufficient to kill weeds but which is tolerated by the alfalfa plants;and (c) harvesting one or more crops of alfalfa hay from said field.